Tooth extraction is the most common operation in dentistry. During extraction and after the surgery, there is some process to ensure healthy healing of the extraction site. Tissues are separated, small blood vessels are ruptured, and the extraction leaves a wound where a blood clot forms.
A complete blood clot is a key to quick, painless, and successful healing of the extraction site. However, you may have some questions in your mind, like, “when does the blood clot go away after tooth extraction?” And we are here to answer your questions like that.
In this article, we will discuss some important issues to consider after a tooth extraction surgery.
Table of Content
When Does The Blood Clot Go Away After Tooth Extraction?
Tissues heal in about 10-15 days. At the very least, the pain will be gone by that time. After that, you won’t have to worry about any external changes. Of course, this is a tentative framework.
If your tooth extraction blood clot fell out after a week, that’s normal. The residue is only visible in the center of the hole, which has reduced in size.
The healing process is different for each patient individually. Not only does the injured gum recover, but also the bone tissue inside the root extraction site. Therefore, the blood clot is a very important factor in this healing process.
It performs an important role for 7-10 days in the healing process. Then it dissolves. However, what does a blood clot after tooth extraction look like? Or, what should a tooth extraction look like when healing? Do not be excited. We are going towards it.
Healing Process: Healthy Blood Clot After Tooth Extraction
Blood clots are a potential complication after tooth extractions. If you have an open wound, your pain may worsen because of this development in the socket- unless blood circulation improves rapidly with treatment to stop it from clotting further or detaching completely away!
The First 3 Hours
After extraction of the tooth, bleeding occurs. This is normal because the tissue has been traumatized. The extraction site is completely filled with blood, which normally clots immediately.
Then, a blood clot is formed. It is extremely important for normal rehabilitation! It is essentially a natural barrier against the penetration of bacteria into the wound. You may notice a jelly-like blood clot after tooth extraction at this time. The color of the hole is dark red in this period.
During the First 2 to 3 Days
The dark clot will remain and thicken, its size will decrease. Inside the hole, granulation tissue begins to form. Young connective tissue will form the basis for mucosal repair.
After 3-7 Days
The clot is lighter and whiter in color. Granulation tissue covers almost the entire hole. Swelling and soreness should decrease or even go away altogether.
After 7-10 Days
The blood clot dissolves. When you ask, “when does the blood clot go away after tooth extraction?” This is the answer. So, if your tooth extraction blood clot fell out after a week, that’s normal. The residue is only visible in the center of the hole, which has reduced in size. Under the healing gum, new bone tissue begins to form. It will take 4-6 months to fill the defect from the edges to the center.
After 15 Days
The young pink mucous membrane covers the entire hole, the surface healing is completed. That’s how long it takes the hole to close after tooth extraction.
What to Do if Blood Clots Are Dislodged After Tooth Extraction?
If the blood clot dislodges before the normal time frame of the healing process, you have nothing to do but contact your dentist as soon as possible. Sometimes, this can be the scenario that you have lost a blood clot 5 days after tooth extraction. That is maybe normal.
But to ensure that there is no risk, contact your dentist. To avoid this kind of problem, some preventive steps should be taken.
The first step is to choose a dentist who will carry out the extraction professionally and gently without severe tissue trauma. A general dentist mustn’t carry out the operation. But by a dental surgeon or even an oral surgeon – and implantologist.
The blood clot protects the wound from germs. It prevents bits of food and saliva from accumulating in the hole during the first week of rehabilitation.
It is the highly specialized dentist who knows how important it is to preserve bone volume. This is necessary to ensure that there are as few restrictions as possible for implants after this operation.
The most important thing after the operation is to follow the instructions and recommendations given by the doctor. If medication is prescribed, it must be taken strictly for the allotted time. See our short checklist of what you can and cannot do after surgery.
Quick Checklist: A List of Things to Do After Extraction
Here are some tips to help you feel better and heal faster after a tooth has been removed from your mouth.
- A cotton swab applied by a doctor must be retained for 20-30 minutes.
- For 2-3 hours after surgery, always apply cold compresses to reduce swelling of tissues.
- Run mouth baths (do not confuse with a mouthwash) with antiseptic agents for 3-5 days: Miramistin, Chlorhexidine 0.5% or other medicines prescribed by your doctor can be used as a therapeutic solution.
- After 3 to 5 days, start using a toothbrush – only a soft one for the operated area and a new one free of bacteria. The teeth of the opposite jaw can be brushed immediately. The main thing is to avoid the area of the extracted tooth.
- Chew food on the side opposite the affected area.
- You can drink water immediately, preferably lukewarm water.
- You are allowed to eat only after the anesthesia has come off, i.e., after 2-3 hours.
- Lead a quiet life, avoid physical exertion, and lift weights for 5-7 days.
Why Is Blood Clot Important? Things to Know
As you have asked, “when does the blood clot go away after tooth extraction?” We feel it necessary to describe why it is important. The blood clot protects the wound from germs. It prevents bits of food and saliva from accumulating in the hole during the first week of rehabilitation.
It is a natural sterile dressing that triggers the process of new tissue formation. The most important rule to avoid complications and severe inflammation of the wound is never to remove the clot. Please do not touch it with your tongue or fingers.
Do not hold a tampon longer than 30 minutes, gauze soaked in blood and saliva will quickly become a breeding ground for infection. In addition, there is a blood clot forming in the hole. The presence of a foreign body and additional trauma is not good for it. The wound should be allowed to heal naturally.
You can prevent a tooth extraction text (especially if it is complicated) by applying a cold compress. To do this, wrap an ice pack from the freezer in a towel and place it on your cheek (i.e., on the outside) for no more than 20 minutes.
The procedure can be repeated after 15 minutes. If there is no ice on hand, frozen vegetables or meat will do. But be sure to wrap them in a bag and a towel to avoid a cold burn. The cold narrows the blood vessels and reduces soreness and swelling, although it does not remove the swelling completely.
The compresses are effective immediately after the operation for about 3-4 hours.
Do not heat the injured area under any circumstances! A hot compress will only worsen the swelling by increasing the blood flow at the site of inflammation. This will lead to serious complications after the operation.
Medication After Tooth Extraction: What to Take at Home?
In order to prevent complications, your doctor will prescribe you remedies for home therapy. The exact type of medication you can take depends on your specific situation. Your body type, allergies, and any underlying medical conditions should be considered.
How to Reduce Pain After Tooth Extraction?
The medication will be recommended to you by your doctor. Painkillers should be taken as needed – at night or when the anesthesia wears off. If the pain is severe in the first few days, analgesics prescribed by your doctor can be taken every 4-6 hours.
But no more than 4 days in a row. You should have no pain one month after tooth extraction. But if you have any discomfort 3 weeks after extraction, contact your doctor.
What Antibiotics to Take After Tooth Extraction?
Antibiotics are needed when the immune system itself cannot cope with pathogenic microbes and infectious inflammation begins. But antibiotics also inhibit the activity of “good” microorganisms and also have many side effects.
Therefore, they are prescribed strictly according to your health condition at the time of tooth extraction. Also, how the surgery was performed. Generally, they are necessary if there is concomitant inflammation in the mouth.
the best solution is a dental implant. Only it can stop bone atrophy because the implant replaces the root of the tooth and transfers the masticatory pressure to the bone. In turn, it stimulates blood circulation and cell nutrition.
Also, when there is an acute infection process in the body as a whole or if a large number of teeth have been extracted at once.
If you receive a follow-up treatment plan, you should purchase medication immediately, without delay. That is to help yourself in case of increased pain and discomfort. The doctor’s recommendations should be strictly followed, and no “amateurism” should be allowed.
Therapeutic Oral Baths During Tissue Repair
When you ask, “when does the blood clot go away after tooth extraction?” you should know that intense rinsing is prohibited. This can wash away the blood clot and expose the hole, inflaming the tissue and making it hard to heal.
Therapeutic baths can replace gargles. Both normal water and antiseptics prescribed by the doctor are suitable for this. Chlorhexidine 0.05% solution (in such concentration, it is sold in pharmacies) or Miramistin should be held in the mouth for about 30-60 seconds and then spat out. Repeat the treatment after meals, 3 times a day.
Such baths are a must if you have any of the following problems in your mouth:
- Other teeth are damaged by decay or have tartar on them. Pathogens in the deposits can lead to the development of alveolitis.
- Incisions have been made in the gums to open up the flux.
- Under the extracted tooth or the tissue next to it was inflamed.
Consequences of Tooth Loss: What Happens to the Bone, and How Can It Be Saved?
Even if only one tooth is extracted, the jaw situation immediately begins to deteriorate. The bone is no longer under chewing pressure, and metabolism stops. The bone tissue under the tooth begins to subside, i.e., atrophy.
This is a fast process – bone loss can be as much as 30% in just the first year. Subsequently, it won’t be easy to place an implant-supported replacement tooth in its place. Because of permanent subsidence of the bone and gums, as well as displacement of neighboring teeth.
They lose their support, so they shift and lean into the resulting “empty space.” This is how to bite problems develop. To prevent bone loss after tooth extraction, especially in the case of complex multi-rooted tooth extractions, a bio frame or a membrane-adapted, biocompatible bone graft is recommended.
This ensures that the bone volume and the height of the alveolar ridge remain sufficient. Sufficient for a future unhindered dental implantation.
How Can a Tooth After Extraction Be Restored?
There are several options for dental restoration, and not all of them require a long waiting period. Some of them are:
- Removable dentures can be inserted after 3-4 days at the earliest. But it is better to wait 2-3 weeks to allow the extraction site to recover fully.
- Bridge prostheses cannot be inserted immediately. Because taking impressions and preparing the neighboring teeth can injure the wound. The earliest possible treatment is after 5-6 days.
- Implantation can take place immediately. The implant is placed in the extraction site 3 to 5 months after the bone has been rebuilt with a classic two-stage implant procedure.
- Removable prostheses are the least expensive type of dental restoration. But they have many disadvantages. From the loss of teeth and poor aesthetics to the lack of pressure on the bone tissue, which continues to atrophy rather than regenerate.
The second option is a dental bridge. These are fixed bridges that are cemented to the two adjacent supporting teeth. From a comfort point of view, it is a better option than removable dentures.
However, the supporting teeth must be ground down, that is, intentionally disabled. These, too, will have to be restored in the future. In addition, this type of denture does not stop the development of atrophy either.
Therefore, the best solution is a dental implant. Only it can stop bone atrophy because the implant replaces the root of the tooth and transfers the masticatory pressure to the bone. In turn, it stimulates blood circulation and cell nutrition.
Implants are the most durable and reliable solution compared to other types of prosthetics. Implants can even be placed in the extraction site of a freshly extracted tooth. It eliminates the need for future tissue augmentation.
Final Thoughts
Now that we have answered the question “when does the blood clot go away after tooth extraction?”, also why it is important, you should have no confusion left. If you see any major changes from what we have discussed here, you should immediately contact your doctor.
Also, this article is for a general overview of the issue. For any unusual situation after tooth extraction, you should seek help from dental professionals.
